Monday, December 29, 2003

Nicole Theriault and Siriyakorn Pukkavesh from Monrak Transistor give great performances in this drama by Thai indie director Pimpaka Towira. It's the story of a high-society newlywed (Nicole) whose husband goes missing after their first night together. She calls the guy's asshole brother for help and meets his abused, lower-class wife (Siriyakorn). The two then develop a friendship. The film has a great look, with sharp, crisp photography and a subdued mood that is enhanced by the presence of Bangkok's rainy season. It's all for nothing, though, as the result is confusing and implausible.

In turning to contemporary times, Nonzee gives his most thought-provoking film yet in the story about a monk who leaves the temple where he has lived since he was a child and moves to Muslim-dominated South Thailand to care for the daughter of his sister, who was killed in a terrorist attack on a train.

Despite the heavy handed subject about the growing spectre of Muslim extremism (one of his nightmare visions is of a trainload of bearded Kalishnikov-toting terrorists), the film is pretty light-hearted. He must first adjust to wearing something other than monk's robes and must take extra care with that zipper. He takes over his dead sister's business - a hair salon catering to a bevy of beautiful women who work in a karaoke parlor. He experiences his first hard-on while riding on the back of a motor scooter driving by his attractive new neighbor Lynn. He must learn to ride a bike and deal with his feelings - or are they really his feelings?